Category: Friday Five

Reading: ‘When Breath Becomes Air’ by Paul Kalanithi. This book had been doing the rounds on Instagram with lots of people I know recommending it. Having a lot of friends in the medical field I saw the cover and honed in on it. I wasn’t really sure what it was about but was forewarned it was going to make me cry. It did. I sobbed ugly tears whilst considering my own mortality and wanting to tell everyone I loved them.

Listening: ‘Little Of Your Love’ by Haim. They’ve not been on my radar until recently but now they’re invading my brain with their catchy tunes. Plus I’d quite like them to be my friends and part of my ‘hashtag girl squad’.

Watching: ‘Sixteen Candles’ – off the back of being asked my favourite John Hughes movie moment I dusted off my box set and started with my favourite. A chance to relive my teenage crush on Jake Ryan and lament the fact he never turned up to collect me in a red 80’s Porsche.

Lusting: Greeting cards make fantastic cheap artwork if you pop them in a fancy frame and ‘Sapling Press’ are knocking it out of the park with their offerings. I love so much of their work I could have an entire Sapling gallery wall.

Loathing: People taking pops at medics – the Gabby Logan interview with Pam Venning the IAAF medical officer was disgusting. Venning is a trained medic and exceptionally competent and yet she was hauled over the coals by a sports commentator about her decision to bar an athlete with Norovirus.

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Reading: ‘Hold Back the Stars’ by Katie Khan. What a debut! Described as being the new ‘One Day’ (sidebar: I hated that book but adored this one) and being translated into twenty different languages Katie has really knocked it out of the park with this one. Can’t wait for the movie – there’ll be a movie surely?!

Listening: ‘Told You So’ by Paramore. Always thought Paramore were some screechy heavy metal band. Very pleased to have been proved wrong.

Watching: Recently rediscovered ‘PhoneShop’ and it is snort enducingly hilarious. Two of the characters Ashley and Jerwayne remind me of some friends and I like to text one just saying ‘a OWL?!’ from time to time. All three series are on All 4 and it’s well worth a watch.

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Reading: ‘Wilde Like Me’ by Louise Pentland. I know, I know, a Youtuber with a book deal *rolls eyes* I picked it up for a fiver in Tesco expecting it to be fluffy nonsense that I’d be able to scoff at. Nicely surprised that it wasn’t although quite heavy on the Mum chat.

Listening: ‘Sticky Situation’ by Kiko Bun is just a great summer tune. Makes me smile when it comes on in the car and reminds me of an awesome colleague.

Watching: ‘Dear Diary, my teen angst bullshit now has a body count.’ An oldie but a goodie, it’s ‘Heathers’. Apparently having a reboot for 2018… please don’t ruin it.

Lusting: A Blubambu glass teak root bowl – I bought my SIL one of these vases a few years ago, they’re even cooler in the flesh.

Loathing: Vet bills! My boy has the equivalent of Yakult for cats and now has an unknown allergy too. It’s a good job I love him.

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Reading: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book in one sitting but this one had me gripped. There were several quotes which hit me right in the feels and a twist that made me gasp. Read it.

Listening: This might seem odd but I love a bit of Skepta, it makes me feel like a badass. I’ve been kind and provided the radio edit link. All together now ‘that’s not me and it’s shutdown’ *

Watching: My first ever Woody Allen film! ‘Cafe Society’ was gently enjoyable and the staging was gorgeous. The only minor problem was Steve Carell as Phil Stern because… his voice is just Gru from Despicable Me. Although, Blake Lively *loveheart eyes emoji*

Lusting: Pinky Promise would look so so good on my wall. Totally added it to my basket and it will no doubt be joined by other bits and bobs. Fy is a great website.

Loathing: Feeling old! How do I have a nephew that is ten?! I remember the day I met him, I was so scared holding him because I thought I’d drop him and now I wouldn’t be able to lift him at all. TEN.

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Reading: ‘The Life of a Scilly Sergeant’ by Colin Taylor. Sergeant Taylor came into my life via the Isles of Scilly Police Facebook page which a friend shared and from the get go I was hooked. Policing on Scilly is very different to the mainland and this book is well worth a read – before it hits our screen as a major TV series.

Listening: Never been a Selena Gomez fan but she’s killing it with ‘Bad Liar‘ which is the catchiest song I’ve heard in a while. The lyrics are fairly close to home right now too (oops).

Watching: I’m not proud but I’ve been sucked in to ‘Love Island’ much like the rest of the UK. I can’t name them all as they’re still one homogenous lump but the Jonny/Camilla/Craig/Jamie storyline has been acers.

Lusting: OH MY DAYS. I could spend so much money on Tada and Toy right now. Their gold star hair pins are the stuff of dreams.

Loathing: Mother fucking hay fever! My nose is twitching so much I may as well have floppy ears and a fuzzy tail. I’m managed to dodge it for thirty five years so I can’t complain too much but my lord it’s irritating.